Bachelor's Amber returns to Sugar Land after rejection

A thorn, not a rose, for Bachelor's Amber

MIKE McDANIEL, Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Friday, May 11, 2007

Photo: ADAM LARKEY, ABC

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Back in February, Navy Doctor Andy Baldwin and Amber Alchalabi, a teacher from Sugar Land, worked together to renovate a rundown Los Angeles elementary school playground. Now Baldwin has his sights set on three other tyoung women on The Bachelor, as Alchalabi comes home. less

Back in February, Navy Doctor Andy Baldwin and Amber Alchalabi, a teacher from Sugar Land, worked together to renovate a rundown Los Angeles elementary school playground. Now Baldwin has his sights set on three ... more

Photo: ADAM LARKEY, ABC

Bachelor's Amber returns to Sugar Land after rejection

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After a whirlwind courtship and breakup on national TV, Amber Alchalabi, 23, returned to Sugar Land and her job as fourth-grade teacher at Colony Bend Elementary School.

Beau Andy Baldwin, a 30-year-old Navy doctor, decided not to give Alchalabi a rose on Monday's episode of ABC's The Bachelor, leaving him with three other women to pursue further.

Alchalabi's time away from school took an unexpected toll. Colony Bend principal Tammie Carpenter resigned, effective June 29, after being disciplined for excusing Alchalabi's 22-day absence without seeking approval from a higher authority.

Q: What made you want to be on the show?

A: I was watching last season's finale, and they showed clips of Andy. I went straight to the computer and applied online. I submitted one sentence and a picture, and the next day they called for an interview.

I wrote that I've tried so many ways of dating, Internet dating, blind dates, and thought, what the heck, I might as well try this way.

Q: On Monday's show, you said you had "no freaking clue" as to why you were cut. Do you still feel that way?

A: Watching the episode, I have more of an idea why. But when it was just Andy and I, he made me feel and I felt, ... (like) I'm going to go really far in this. There would be little comments he'd say, like he couldn't wait for his mom to meet me, and how much his sister adored me, little things that led me to believe I would be there for a while.

Q: Did your parents advise you not to do the show?

A: Yes, they said going on television was not the right way to meet a guy. I thought, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you never know if you don't take chances, so I went ahead and did it.

Q: You and Andy did seem to connect, and your tear-filled reaction Monday suggested you were in love. Is that correct?

A: No, I wasn't in love, but I definitely was falling for him. I mean, the whole time on the show I was liking him more. When (the show) came to my hometown, it was like, "This is real." He was in Sugar Land, Texas. At my apartment. At my work. Meeting my boss and my kids.

It made my feelings for him grow that much more.

Q: Were you reprimanded at your school?

A: No, I was not reprimanded.

Q: When you got back, what was your class's reaction?

A: It's funny, because they're fourth-graders and even though there was a camera crew, Andy and producers, my kids never mentioned it one time when I came back. That's how these kids are; it was like it never happened. I pretended I was never gone and that was that.

Q: Your job is safe, correct?

If you want to come back, you're in, right?

A: I think so. I love my job, and that's why I wanted Andy to see it. It means so much to me.

Hopefully, everyone will be smart about it and make the right decision.

Q: Who might win Andy's heart?

A: It's a tossup between Bevin and Tessa. I know he had strong feelings for the both of them.

Q: There must be a part of you that doesn't care anymore.

A: No, I do care because he was a nice guy. We all went there for the right reasons, to find a true love. So I do hope he does find his.